How India will benefit from MTCR membership

New Delhi, June 27: India on Monday (June 27) officially joined the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR) as its 35th member, three days after its bid to get entry in the Nuclear Suppliers Group (NSG) was blocked by China and some other countries. [What is MTCR?]

Getting an admission in the MTCR is no less feat for Indian diplomacy. Here are the issues in which New Delhi will gain by formally joining the MTCR:

External benefits:

• Selling BrahMos missile: India will be able to sell the Indo-Russian supersonic cruise missile BrahMos to Vietnam and other countries and it would make it a significant exporter of arms.
• Getting Israel's Arrow II missile: India had for long eyed Israel's Arrow II theatre missile defence interceptor to develop an indigenous ballistic missile system but couldn't do so because of MTCR's norms. Now, with a ticket to the MTCR in its possession, India will be able to defend itself against Chinese and Pakistani missiles.
• Procuring surveillance drones: India will be able to buy surveillance drones from abroad like the American predator drones. The US may also provide UAVs, Reaper and Global Hawk that are used in counter-terrorism efforts.
• Inching closer to NSG: India's admission in MTCR is a step closer to its membership to the 48-member NSG (Nuclear Suppliers Group) which has been blocked by China. It also gives India an opportunity to engage with other global non-proliferation players. [Why India's NSG membership is important]
• Square things with China: China, which opposed India's entry into the NSG at the just-concluded Seoul plenary meeting, is itself not a member of the MTCR.

Internal benefits:

• Boost to Make in India: India's own technology which will be developed or made under the flagship programme of 'Made in India' will see free movement out of the country and boosting the programme in return.
• Benefiting Isro: During the Cold War era, Russia had denied the cryogenic technology to India. But now, with India getting a membership of the MTCR, its space agency will have access to high-end technologies for developing its cryogenic engines to enhance space exploration.

Oneindia News